Chair and tablet arm assembly



Jan. 5, 1954 J. H. CLARIN 2,664,943

CHAIR AND TABLET ARM ASSEMBLY Filed June 12. 1952 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 I' I" I'I' 'I I "I "I" I I I I II I I 7 I II I; I: ll: ||||i r I 7 J6 I I I I III I I I I II I II II I I 23 8 I "I N III I II 3 22 V I I I :HWIIII If? I 'lllllmm mmvnm,

BY Y

Jan. 5, 1954 J. H. CLARIN CHAIR AND TABLET ARM ASSEMBLY 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed June 12, 1952 INVENTOR.

Patented Jan. 5, 1954 CHAIR AND TABLET ASSEMBLY John H. Clarin, Oak Park, Ill., assignor to Clarin Mfg. 00., Chicago, Ill., a corporation of Illinois Application June 12, 1952, Serial No. 293,048

11 Claims. 1

This invention relates to chairs having tablet arms attached thereto and is more particularly concerned with a folding chair having a collapsible tablet or writing arm mounted thereon in a manner such that it may be readily extended to a horizontal writing position forward of and above the seat, moved to a vertical position at oneside of the chair so as not to obstruct the seat, or collapsed to a storage position against the fiat side of the folded chair.

For many years the provision of tablet arms on chairs has been an acknowledged solutionto the problem of providing writing space, wherever permanently installed desks or tables are not practical. Most of the previously known tabletarm type chairs, however, were so designed that the tablet-arm was held in fixed relation to the seat and, consequently, made it very difiicult for a person to seat himself or to rise from the chair. Even in those chairs which could be folded and the tablet arm collapsed, it was generally necessary to fold the chair in order to collapse the tablet arm. This dependent movement of the chair and arm, of course, detracts considerably from the utility of the chair in a class room or the like, where the chairs are necessarily grouped in close relation to one another and it is important that the student be able to seat himself or rise from the chair without being obstructed by the tablet arm and without having to fold the chair. Furthermore, the previously used collapsible tablet arms were generally unstable and often very difficult to move into and out of writing position. A previous solution to the above discussed problems has been presented in my copending application, Serial No. 242,248, filed August 17, 1951-, and the present application is directed to an improved form of the chair disclosed therein.

The main object of the present invention is to provide a chair having a tablet arm which may be extended over the seat for writing or other purposes, and moved to an inoperative position at one side of the chair so as not to obstruct the seat; to provide a tablet arm assembly which is associated with a folding chair in a manner affording relative movement between the tablet arm and chair so that the tablet arm can be moved into and out of its operative position and, also, so that the entire chair and tablet arm assembly may be compactly collapsed for storing.) to provide a folding chair and collapsible tablet arm assembly having a sturdy overall construction of high rigidity and affording independent collapsing and extending of the chair and tablet which may be easily and economically manufactured and which may be quickly and easily moved into and out of its various positions for use or storage.

An illustrative embodiment of this invention is shown in the accompanying drawings, wherein:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of a folding chair and tablet arm assembly to which this invention is applied, the tablet arm being shown in its inoperative lowered position at one side of the chair.

Figure 2 is a side elevational view of the chair and tablet arm assembly fully collapsed for storage.

Figure 3 is an enlarged fragmentary top elevational view of the chair and tablet arm assembly, with the tablet arm extended but raised to a vertical position so as not to obstruct the seat.

Figure 4 is a side elevational view of the chair and tablet arm assembly with the tablet arm in its horizontal, operative position above the chair seat.

Figure 5 is an enlarged sectional view taken on the line 5-5 of Figure 4.

A folding chair 6 embodying certain of the novel features of the present invention is illustrated in the drawings. Although the present invention is adapted also for use with chairs having their legs permanently fixed in position relative to the remainder of the chair, it is particularly suitable for use with the folding type chair and will, therefore, be described in connection with the latter.

As shown, the folding chair 6 includes a back rest I fixed to a U-shaped frame 3 providing at its lower extremities a pair of forward legs 9, a seat In and a pair of rearward legs I l which are foldable relative to the U-shaped frame 8 in the manner described in my previously mentioned copending application, serial No. 242,248, and a tablet arm assembly 12 constructed and arranged in accordance with this invention.

The back rest I is preferably of metal but may readily be made of wood or other suitable material and may include suitable padding material if desired. The U-shaped frame 8, as seen particularly in Figs. 1 and 2, is formed from a fiat'strip of metal with the edges being rolled to provide beads l3 on the outer surface of the frame. The beaded portions of the frame act as stiffening means for the frame and also provide a channel web for attaching a pair of cross-braces l4 and ['5 in spaced relation between the forward legs 9. These cross-braces are formed with rolled edges in the manner of the U-shaped frame 8 and are preferably secured to the latter by welding opposite flattened end portions of each of the cross-braces l4 and I5 in position on the frame 8 between the beads l3, with the braces disposed on respectively opposite sides of the U-shaped frame. The upper cross-brace [4 also serves to support the seat I0 in its operative position.

The seat I0 comprises a Wood panel bound at its edges by a channel shaped metal strip IE but obviously may be readily made of other material or design. The seat In is supported on opposite sides adjacent its rear edge by a pair of links I! which are pivotally connected at their upper ends to an upper portion of the frame 8 and at their lower ends to the metal strip !6 around the seat. A lower extension l8 (Fig. 4) on each of the links ll is adapted for engagement with the upper cross-brace l4 to limit the forward swinging movement of the links as the seat I0 is moved to its operative position. Furthermore, a stud I9 is provided on the metal strip I}? to the rear of each of the links I! to limit the rearward movement of the links as the seat is moved rearwardly and upwardly to its collapsed position shown in Fig. 2. This latter mentioned coaction between studs [3 and the links H prevents the seat Hi from moving to an over-center position with respect to the U-shaped frame 6, from which position it would be difficult to disengage the seat and move it back to its chair-forming position.

Forw'a'rdly of the seat supporting links H, the seat I9 is further pivotally' supported at opposite sides thereof by the upper ends of a pair of strap members 2|! which are pivotally connected at an intermediate point, by a pin 2 to the U-shaped frame 8. The lower ends of the strap members are fixed to the upper ends of the rearwardly extending pair of legs H for movement therewith about the pivot center 2| on the frame 8. As in the case of the forwardly extending 1egs 9, a pair of brace members 22 are provided between the rearward legs I l. The end portions of each of the four legs are preferably provided with a molded rubber foot 23 or the like.

It will be seen from the foregoing and by looking particularly at Fig. 4, that movement of the seat I0 relative to the U-shaped frame 8 will carry with it the rearward pair of legs II to collapse and extend the seat and legs, as desired.

The tablet arm assembly l2 includes a con ventional tablet arm 24, preferably of wood, which is secured in movable relation to one side of the chair 6 by a bracket 25 fixed to an upper portion of the U-shaped frame 8-, as by rivets, and a post 26 which is pivotally connected at its lower end by a pin 2'! or the like to a lower portion of the chair frame. The post 26 is preferably a metal angle member and is braced against movement laterally of the chair by a cross-brace 28 which is fixed at one end to the lower end of the post and extends across to the opposite side of the U-shaped frame 8, where it has an inwardly turned end portion 28.I pivotally fixed in position on the inner face of the frame. An angle brace 29 between post 26 and the transverse brace 28 adds further rigidity to the post.

The upper end of post 26 has a flange extension 30 b'e'nt horiiontally to provide a bearing surface for the tablet arm at the upper end of the post, 'as' seen best in Fig. 5. A short angle member 3| is also secured, as by rivets, to one flange of the post 28 to form therewith a chain 4 nel section immediately underlying the horizontal bearing surface 30. Opposite sides of this channel section have axially aligned openings therethrough to receive a transverse hinge pin 32 which projects beyond the outer side of the post 26 in a direction away from the chair 6. A yoke member 33 is provided with aligned openings through its leg portions for plvotally mounting the yoke on the projecting end portion of pin 32, with its bight spaced outwardly from the pin. A washer 34 is preferably placed between yoke 33 and the adjacent flange of post 26 to facilitate free turning movement of the yoke on the hinge pin 32 relative to the post. The structure just describedprovides a double pivot support for the forward end of the tablet arm in a manner to be described.

As previously indicated, the support for the rearward end of the tablet arm is provided by the bracket 25 which is fixed to the upper porticnof the U-shaped frame 8. An intermediate portien of the bracket 25 has fixed thereto one end of a strap member 36 (Fig. 1) which ex tends angularly away from the bracket 25 and terminates at its upper end in a generally vertical section spaced from the upper end of the bracket 25. A yoke member 31 is secured, as by welding, to the spaced upper ends of strap 36 and bracket 25 to provide a horizontal bearing surface at the top of these members. Aligned openings are formed in strap 38, yoke 31 and bracket 25 to provide a journal bearing for a transverse hinge pin 38. The outer end of the pin 38 has non-rotatably fixed thereto the bight portion of another yoke 33, which has aligned openings through its leg portions, and a cylindrical bearing member 40 is fixedly disposed between these openings to provide therewith an elongated cylindrical bearing surface. This cylindrical bearing 40 is positioned for horizontal alignment with the generally cylindrical bearing surface provided by the yoke member 33 on the post 26 at the forward end of the chair. Consequently, there is provided suitable means for rotatably supporting opposite ends of an elongated rod 4| which provides hinged movement between the tablet arm and its supporting elements. 7

The rod 4| is supported at its rearward end, on the underside of the tablet arm 24, by a depending flange portion of a channel bracket 42 which is secured to the tablet arm by screws or the like. An opening is provided in the depending portion of bracket 42 to receive the rod 4|. The rod 4| extendsthrough the cylindrical bearing 40 on the yoke 39 for sliding movement relative thereto and for rotation in the bearing. Further, the channel bracket 42 is of a width such that, when the rear flange of the channel abuts the yoke 39, it may be rotated about the axis of rod 4| to embrace the yoke 39 and also the inner yoke 3l between its flanges and thus prevent relative sliding movement between the rod 4| and its cylindrical bearing 40 so as to lock the tablet arm in its forward operative position as shown in Fig. 4.

The forward end of the tablet arm provides, with the yoke 33 on the forward post 26, means for receiving the forward end of rod 4| which comprises a yoke-43 secured to the underside of the tablet arm 24 and having aligned openings therethrough for receiving the rod. More specifically, an elongated channel member 44 is secured to the underside of the tablet arm 24 as shown in Fig. I, and the yoke 43 is fixed, as by welding, to the end of channel 44 adjacent post 28.. The yoke 43 is positioned astride the yoke 33 (Fig. 1) on the post 26 to provide therewith a bearing means for the forward end of the rod 4|. The rod is preferably removably positioned in the various, aligned openings described above in a manner. preventing axial movement of the rod relative to the tablet arm. In the illustrated embodiment each end of the rod 4| includes a peripheral groov (not shown) for holding a. spring clip or washer 45 (Fig. 3) to prevent axial movement of the rod.

It i seen, therefore, that the tablet arm is mounted for vertical swinging movement relative to the. chair, through the horizontal hinged connection aifordedby, the rod 4|. Further, it is evident that the horizontal pivots provided by hinge pins 32 and 38, the swinging movement provided for post 26, and the relative sliding movement afforded between rod 4| and its rear bearing support 40, permit the arm to move rearwardly and downwardly with respect to the chair to assume the position shown in Fig. The collapsing of the chair 6- through movement of the seat It], in the manner described above, will then permit the tablet arm to be folded toward the chair about the axis of rod 4| to achieve the storage position shown in Fig. 2. It will be noted that the bracket includes an outwardly turned flange 46 which limits the rearward movement of the post 26 and insures alignment of the post 0 with the side of U-shaped frame 8 when collapsed. I

The collapsible chair and tablet arm assembly described above is economical to manufacture, simple to operate, and provides a rigid writing surface. The movement of the tablet arm and the chair to and from their various positions for use and storage is smooth and simple to achieve. The tablet arm assembly has four positions which contribute much to the utility of the structure.

The horizontal, extended position of the armv (Fig. 4) provides a convenient writing surface which is firmly supported in position through the coaction of the post 26 with the channel 44 on the underside of the arm, and the coaction of the channel 42 with the yoke 31 at the rear of the arm which prevents any relative sliding movement between the arm and the chair. The extended vertical position of the arm (Fig. 3) provides an unobstructed path to the seat 10, with the tablet arm readily movable from such position to its horizontal writing position. The collapsed position of th arm alongside the chair (Fig. 1) provides for free use of the chair apart from its utility as a desk, and the collapsed position of the arm and chair (Fig. 2) provides for storage of the chair and tablet arm unit in a minimum of space.

It will also be noted that the tablet arm and the chair are independent of each other in their folding movements. Consequently. the chair may be conveniently used with the arm collapsed to an unobtrusiv position at the side ofthe chair and, further, there can be no confusion as to what element to fold or extend first in moving the chair. to its storage and operative positions, respectively. In folding the chair it is immaterial as. to whether the chair or arm is folded first, apart from the obvious final-step of folding the arm across the front of the collapsed chair. S imilarly, in moving the chair and arm to their extended positions, once the arm has been swung away fromits position overlapping the collapsed chai git matters not whether the arm or the chair fir t t be xt n ed- ,F rt er. heabs n e 9 connections between the seat and the collapsible tablet arm assembly and the spacing provided therebetween avoids the troublesome catching of clothing between these relatively movable parts, as is the case in some of the prior art constructions. It will also be readily apparent, from the construction of the illustrated embodiment, that it may be readily attached to'existing chairs not having tablet arms.

Although but one specific embodiment of this invention has been herein shown and described, it will be understood that details of the construction shown may b altered without depart ing from the spirit of the invention as defined by the following claims.

' I claim:

,1. A collapsible tablet arm assembly for support on a chair comprising, a tablet arm, an elongated member fixed to the underside of said tablet arm, a pair of elements providing aligned journal bearings-receiving said elongated member, each of said elements having a support member connected thereto for relative movement about an axis generally normal to the axis of said journal bearing, one of said elements affording relative axial sliding movement of said elongated member, and each of said support members including means for attachment to a chair in supported relation thereto.

2. A collapsible tablet arm assembly for support on a chair, comprising a tablet arm, a rod fixed to the underside of said tablet arm in generally'longitudinally extending, spaced relation thereto, a pair of elements providing aligned journal bearings receiving said rod, one of said;

elements being arranged in axially fixed relation to said rod, the other of said elements slidably: receiving said rod for relative axial movement therebetween, and a support member connected to each element of said pair for relative move:-v ment about an axis generally normal to the axis of said journal bearing, one of said support members including means providingfor rigid attach-, ment thereof to the chair, the other of said support members including means providing for pivotal attachment thereof to the chair at a point on said member beneath its connection with said journal bearing element, and a releasable lock means on said assembly for preventing said rela-- tiv axial sliding movement between said rod and said other journal bearing.

3. A collapsible tablet arm assembly for support on a chair comprising, an elongated tabletarm, a rod fixed to the underside of said tablet arm in generally longitudinally extending, spaced relation thereto. a pair of elements providing aligned journal bearings receiving said rod, one

of said elements being disposed at theforward end of said rod with its journal bearing fixed in axial relation to said rod, the other of said elements affording relative axial movement of said rod, an elongated member having one end" connected to said one element for relative move-' ment about an axis generally normal to the axis:

of said rod, the other end of said elongated member including means providing for pivotal .con-.

nection with a forward portion of the chair, a supporting bracket connected 'to said other ,ele-L ment for relative movement about an axis generall y normal to the axis of said rod, said supporting bracket including means providing for a' fixed connection with a rearward'portion of'the chair and including a part disposed in the path of movement of said, one end of said elongated member, and a releasable locking means on said.

assembly operable to prevent said axial sliding movement between said rod and said other element.

'4. In combination with a chair, a collapsible tablet arm assembly comprising, a generally vertical supporting member fixed at its lower end to a forward portion or said chair for relative swinging movement through a generally vertical path along one side of said chair, a supporting bracket fixed to said chair rearwardly of said vertical supporting member, a tablet arm, means hingedly connecting longitudinally spaced portions or said tablet arm to said supporting member and bracket affording lateral tilting movement of said tablet arm relative to said chair, said connecting means also including a pair of elements affording relative movement between said tablet arm and said supporting bracket and supporting member, respectively, about a pair of axes generally normal to the hinge axis, one of said elements affording relative movement of said tablet arm along said hinge axis whereby said tablet arm may be moved in a path gen erally parallel to the path of said supporting member.

5. In combination with a chair, a collapsible tablet arm assembly comprising, a supporting member pivotally connected at one end to a forward portion of said chair for movement through a generally vertical path along one side of said chair, .a supporting bracket fixed to said one side of said chair rearwardly of said supporting member, a tablet arm, means connecting said tablet arm to said supporting member and said supporting bracket comprising, an elongated member fixed to the underside of said tablet arm, a double pivot element interconnecting the upper end of said supporting member with one end of said elongated member for relative movement therebetween about a pair of generally normal axes, and additional means pivotally connected to said supporting bracket for slidably, rotatably receiving the other end portion of said elongated member.

6. In combination with a chair, a collapsible tablet arm assembly comprising, a supporting member pivotally connected at its lower end to a forward portion of said chair for movement relative thereto through a vertical path along one side of said chair, a supporting bracket fixed" to said chair rearwardly'oi said supporting memher and in general alignment therewith, a tablet arm, means connecting said tablet arm to said supporting member ior movement relative thereto about a pair of generally normal axes whereby said tablet arm may be laterally tilted from a horizontal to a vertical position and may also be rotated relative to said supporting member in a plane parallel to said vertical path alongside said chair, and additional means pivotally connecting. said tablet arm to said supporting bracket for sliding movement relative thereto to permit said lateral tilting movement of said tablet arm as well as'said relative rotation of said supporting member and tabletarm alongside of said chair.

i 'l. Incombination with a chair, a collapsible tablet. arm assembly comprising, a supporting member pivotally connected at one end to a forward portion of said chair for movement relative thereto through a generally vertical path along one side of said chair, a supporting bracket fixed to said chair rearwardly of said supporting member and in general alignment with the upper portion of the path of movement of said member, atablet' arm, means connecting said tablet arm to said supporting member and to said supporting bracket, said connecting means including a rod fixed to the underside 01 said tablet arm and journaled in pivot elements mounted, respectively, on said supporting member and said supporting bracket, one of said pivot elements affording sliding movement between said rod and said one element.

8. In combination with a chair, a collapsible tablet arm assembly. comprising, a supporting member pivotally connected at one end to a'iore ward portion of said chair for movement relative thereto through a generally vertical path along one side of said chair, a supporting bracket fixed to said chair rearwardly of said supporting member and in general alignment therewith, a

tablet arm, means connecting said tablet arm to said supporting member and to said supporting bracket, said connecting means including a rod fixed to the underside of said tablet arm, a pair of bearing elements pivotally mounted, respectively, on said supporting member and on said supporting bracket in position to receive spaced portions of said rod for rotation relative thereto, said rod being axially fixed with respect to one of said elements and being axially slidable relative to the other of said bearing elements.

9. In combination with achair, a collapsible,

tablet arm assembly comprising, a supporting member pivotally connected at one end to a forward portion of said chair for movementirelative thereto through a generally vertical path along one side of said chair, a supporting bracket fixed to said chair in general alignment with said supporting member and disposed in a rearward portion of the path of movement vof the latter, a tablet arm, means connecting said tablet arm to said supporting member and bracket, said connecting means including a rod fixed to. the underside of said tablet arm, a pair of bearing elements pivotally mounted, respectively, on said supporting member and said supporting bracket, one end portion of said rod being journalled in the one bearing element on said supporting mem her in axially fixed relationthereto, another por-' tion of said rod being journalled in the otherbearing element on said supporting bracket in axially slidable relation thereto, releasable locking'means on said assembly for preventing said axial sliding movement of said rod relative to said other bearing element, and means on said supporting bracket limiting the extent of rearward movement of said supporting member.

10. In combination with a chair; a collapsible tablet arm assembly comprising, a supporting member pivotally connected at one end to' a lower portion of one of the forward legs or said chair for swinging movement through a generally vertical path along one side of said chair, a supporting bracket fixed to said one side 0! said chair rearwardlyv of said connection for said sup porting member, a tablet arm extending along said one side of said chair, means connecting said tablet arm to said sllpporting'member and said supporting bracket comprising, an elongated member fixed to'the underside of said tablet and in position for connection with said supporting member and said supporting-bracket, mean's' on the upper, free end portion of said supporting member providing a connection with the adjacent end portion of said elongated member, said means including a double pivot element affording relative rotation between said tablet arm'and said supporting member about the axis of said e1on-- gated member and, also, about an axis normal to said elongated member whereby said tablet arm may swing about the upper end of said supporting member generally in the path of movement of the latter, means on said supporting bracket for connection with said elongated member including a yoke element mounted for pivotal movement about an axis normal to the longitudinal axis of said elongated member, said yoke element including aligned openings through its leg portions for slidably, rotatably receiving said elongated member, and additional means on said tablet arm assembly positionable to prevent said sliding movement of said elongated member relative to said yoke element.

11. In combination, a folding chair comprising pairs of front and rear legs and a seat portion hingedly interconnected for movement into and out of collapsed and extended positions, said legs supporting said seat portion when extended and forming therewith a generally plane structure when collapsed, a tablet arm assembly supported on said front and rear legs for movement relative thereto independently of said hinged movement of said legs and seat comprising, a tablet arm, a supporting post fixed at one end to one of said front legs for swinging movement relative thereto along the adjacent side of said 10 chair, a first double-pivot means connecting said tablet arm to the free end of said supporting post for swinging movement relative thereto about either of a pair of generally normal axes on said post, a supporting bracket fixed to said chair rearwardly of the post connection therewith, and a second double pivot connection between said bracket and said tablet arm affording movement therebetween about generally normal axes, one of said axes being common to both of said double-pivot connections, said second doublepivot connection including a bearing means affording sliding movement of said tablet arm along said common axis, whereby said tablet arm may be laterally tilted from a horizontal to a vertical position and may also be rotated relative to said supporting post in a plane generally parallel to the path of movement of said post alongside said chair.

JOHN H. CLARIN.

Referene-es Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,071,011 Park Aug. 19, 1913 1,231,917 Lattig July 3, 1917 1,905,859 Hamilton Apr. 25, 1933 

